West Yellowstone, MT Road Trips

West Yellowstone, MT serves as a quiet starting point in the Mountain West, connecting drivers to 1 outbound routes across the area. Most drives stay under 89 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from West Yellowstone, MT head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

town in Gallatin County, Montana, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

6

Longest Drive

377.5 mi

Miles City, MT

Quickest Drive

1h 52m

Belgrade, MT

Plan Around West Yellowstone, MT

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if West Yellowstone, MT is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Miles City, MT to West Yellowstone, MT 377.5 mi · 6h 49m Evergreen, MT to West Yellowstone, MT 372.2 mi · 6h 50m Great Falls, MT to West Yellowstone, MT 269.1 mi · 4h 52m Livingston, MT to West Yellowstone, MT 116.7 mi · 2h 26m

Continue From West Yellowstone, MT

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

West Yellowstone, MT to Bozeman, MT 89.4 mi · 1h 55m

Trips from West Yellowstone, MT

West Yellowstone, MT to Bozeman, MT

89.4 mi 1h 55m

Driving from West Yellowstone, MT

On average, trips departing from West Yellowstone, MT run 89 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 55m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 89 miles (1h 55m), while the shortest is just 89 miles.

Popular Destinations

The most popular drives from West Yellowstone, MT include Bozeman, MT (89.4 mi, 1h 55m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

For the average 89-mile drive from West Yellowstone, MT, expect to burn about 3.5 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.

Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 1 mapped routes leaving West Yellowstone, MT and 5 routes heading into West Yellowstone, MT, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 89 to 89 miles.

The longest mapped route from West Yellowstone, MT covers 89 miles and takes approximately 1h 55m. Shorter options start at just 89 miles.

The average route from West Yellowstone, MT runs about 89 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 55m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

The most popular road trip destinations from West Yellowstone, MT include Bozeman, MT. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

West Yellowstone, MT by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

1,457

Median Income

$57,167

Median Home Value

$402,600

Median Age

33.3

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to West Yellowstone, MT

West Yellowstone, Montana, is a rustic mountain town nestled between National Forest lands and is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. It is only a mile from the park entrance, and the town's airport is the closest to the park, and to attractions like Old Faithful.

West Yellowstone is a tourist town with tourist prices. You will find many souvenir items in the stores and specialty Montana-made products. During summer be prepared to wait in any restaurant. This is the only place to gather supplies for quite a while in any direction. Be sure you are stocked up for whatever season. Water! There will be little opportunity to fill your water bottles so take more than you think you will need. Hebgen Lake District forest service office: West Yellowstone, +1 406 823-6961

1 Museum of the Yellowstone, 104 Yellowstone Ave (in the old Union Pacific Station Building). Mid-May to mid-Oct. Shows a history of Yellowstone National Park and the tourist train service to West Yellowstone. Includes a collection of historic railway china. $6.

Montana Whitewater Raft Company, Mile 64 on highway 191 between Bozeman and Big Sky; North of West Yellowstone, the West Entrance to the Park, toll-free: +1-800-799-4465. Offering trips on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone Rivers.

1 Running Bear Pancake House, 538 Madison Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-7703, [email protected]. Excellent breakfast place. Known for their pancakes, but other items are delicious also. (updated Oct 2020)

1 The Buffalo Bar, 335 Hwy 20, ☏ +1 406 646-1176. (updated Oct 2020)

West Yellowstone is very much a tourist gateway to Yellowstone National Park and a large variety of accommodation options are available. 1 Best Western Crosswinds Motor Inn, 201 Firehole Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-9557, fax: +1 406 646-9592. 2 Best Western Desert Inn, US 20, 191 & 287, ☏ +1 406 646-7376, toll-free: +1-800-574-7054, fax: +1 406 646-7759. 3 Best Western Weston Inn, 103 Gibbon St, ☏ +1 406 646-7373, toll-free: +1-800-599-9982, fax: +1 406 646-7572. 4 Dude and Roundup Motel, 3 Madison Ave. 5 Faithful Street Inn, 120 N. Faithful St, toll-free: +1-866-646-4329. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Unique cabin lodging for couples, families and large groups. Cabins include wireless internet, ample parking, mountain views and modern rustic charm. 6 Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort, 315 Yellowstone Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-7365. 7 Kirkwood Resort & Marina, 11505 Hebgan Lake Rd, ☏ +1 406 646-7200. Offers well cared for cabin rentals (some with full kitchens), RV spaces, and tent sites. The property includes a boat launch, fuel station, and boat, equipment rentals and park with horseshoe throw, volleyball net, BBQ grills, and picnic tables. The Kirkwood Roadhouse Grill restaurant is onsite. 8 Madison Hotel, Motel, and Hostel, 139 Yellowstone Ave (at Dunraven St). Hostel dormitory rates start at $30, hotel/motel rates start at $59. 9 Stage Coach Inn, 209 Madison Avenue, P.O. Box 169, ☏ +1 406-646-7381, toll-free: +1 800-842-2882, fax: +1 406-646-9575, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2020) 10 Travelers Lodge, 225 West Yellowstone Ave.

1 Yellowstone Airport (WYS IATA) (is one mile north of the CBD). Delta (SkyWest) flies from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC IATA) two or three times a day from June to September. Salt Lake Express provides intercity bus service from Idaho.

West Yellowstone town center, including the museum, shops and restaurants, is small enough to easily walk around.

Travel tips adapted from West Yellowstone on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.